They might be cute, but the ducks that reside along the Paint Creek in downtown Lake Orion’s Children’s Park are getting a bad reputation, at least from one mother.
The Lake Orion Village Council received a letter from a mother who recently visited the park on Broadway Street with her four-year-old daughter.
At the council’s April 24 meeting, the woman’s letter was read, and Village Manager JoAnn Van Tassel noted in her memo to council that when the woman stopped by village hall, she was visibly upset by the experience she and her daughter had with the ducks.
The woman said her daughter was attacked by aggressive ducks, biting the girl’s hands and pants. She said the ducks are used to being fed, and are known to try to steal food out of young children’s hands.
She said although there are currently signs in the park asking people not to feed the ducks, they are disregarded.
‘Please (enforce) the ordinance to uphold the law, and the sign in the park, so the children can enjoy the park without the nuisance of ducks,? she wrote.
The council voted to concur with Van Tassel’s recommendation to forward the woman’s letter to the village parks and recreation advisory committee, and have them report back.
‘We should do something, (the ducks) are very aggressive,? said council member John Ranville.
President Pro Tem Ken Van Portfliet noted that the signs currently in the park are not really enforceable.
‘It’s not like you can get a ticket for feeding the ducks,? he said, noting that council had at one time considered putting in duck feeders at the park to discourage people from doing it.
‘It’s bad for the ducks, and bad for us,? said Van Portfliet.